Melvin

Indeed, the article’s attempt to justify this egregious choice failed from the moment the event was referred to as sacred. Historic, yes. Significant, undoubtedly. Sacred it is not, nor should it be.

In this country, our Constitution enshrines the separation of church and state and generally speaking, sacred refers to reverence for a deity. If there is ever a time in history we should avoid anything that can, in whole or part, reference reverence for a deity it is the inauguration of a man who not only thinks of himself as a god, but has convinced many within his cult that he is.

Secondly, people are not opposed to MVSU’s participation merely because Donald Trump is divisive. To narrow opposition to a single offense is myopic, uninformed, and insulting. Donald Trump is not merely divisive, he is a convicted felon, had associated himself with violent White Nationalists who have openly spewed hatred toward Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, and Muslims. He has fomented violence and a deadly insurrection against our country. He has displayed infidelity to three wives, has been accused of rape more than once including that of a 13-year-old girl, defrauded millions from both his so-called charity and the students of his so-called university. He has cheated hundreds of contractors out of millions for work performed resulting in many having to shutter and thousands of families to lose their source of income. He is vulgar, disrespectful, and contrary to a deity, he has disrepected the Bible and admittedly has not ever asked even God for forgiveness. He tauts religion now only because Evangelicals and the so-called Christian Rights are a large block of votes. He has, in effect, mocked the religion of many.

To add insult to injury, Trump has not only paid homage and befriended brutal dictators, his admiration for their ruthless power ultimately disclosed his desire to be dictator as well, if only for one day. One day is all it takes to attempt to enshrine himself and his family or appointed line of cronies with permanent presidential powers.

During the 1950-60s civil rights movement, thousands of children and teens were sacrificed their safety and very lives to stand against racism. They were beaten, attacked by dogs, sprayed with high pressure hoses, and were jailed. In 2024, rather than be taught courage and commitment to a broader cause, racial dignity and justice, these young college students are be coddled and protected from missing a fun trip, sight seeing, and passing a presidential viewing stand where bullet proof glass will remind them that hate, violence, and the proliferation of guns by the Trump supported NRA has escalated to a point that such protection is needed. Indeed, so much hate and violence has been stoked by Donald Trump and those groups he supports, that the band members themselves could be mowed down by a high speed car in an area where an equal level of protection won’t exist.

Yes they’d miss the sight seeing, the experiences, and what should be a degree of pride; and yes, they’d miss the commraderie that would come with a 15-hour bus ride. But far greater commraderie emerged between young members of the Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s while engaging in nonviolence training demanding voting rights and an ending segregation. Meaningful commraderie arises through working and sacrificing together for a common cause, not being crammed together on a bus for more than half a day.

But instead of supporting these young men and women as they take a stand against their own demise, instead of using the opportunity to teach them this country’s racial history and current efforts to roll back the clock, instead of reminding them of the Project 2025 agenda that denigrates every aspect of their lives and reverses their freedom, instead of giving them tools to counter the attacks against their freedoms, for the sake of the egos of a few adults, they’re being mollycoddled and told they can’t possibly bypass a great bus trip to DC.

Time will tell about the fallout from this decision. It may have done more harm than good. Yes, the invitation has put MVSU on the map, but it has also alienated millions. Some those whose sense of dignity is offended may be donors who have more than a few options to support an HBCU that honors our brutal history in this country and current state of affairs. Those donors may refuse to pay homage with their dollars to a demagogue who, until he needed the Black vote, has exhibited in business and politics, a profound disrespect for African Americans, Muslims, Hispanics, and immirgrants of color.

To participate in this inaugural parade and march reverently past the presidential viewing showing respect to a man who has shown none toward them, is the height of self-hatred and disrespect. This may be a decision made for MVSU but it is one that reflects on every decent American.

Will NSU and DSU make the necessary investments in football?

Mr Wright is something special… feels like Amir Hall in the “before times”

He’a great for D2 football.